Spiritual Practice of the Week:  The Labyrinth

 

the labyrinth at Rivendell on Bowen Island, BC.

The practice of walking a labyrinth is an ancient practice of prayer, pilgrimage, and meditation whose roots go back thousands of years. In Christianity, the labyrinth played a vital part in the practice of pilgrimage. When an actual journey to a sacred site was not possible, people walked the labyrinth. Labyrinths were present on the floors of some of the Christian faith’s oldest and most beautiful cathedrals. Although the practice of walking the labyrinth fell into disuse for centuries, and was almost completely forgotten,  it is again becoming a powerful Christian practice as people search for wisdom from ancient paths. 
If your church does not have its own labyrinth, there may be one in your community or a neighbour church that you aren’t aware of. Ask around or check online. You may wish to create your own labyrinth to use with your group and your church.  You can make an easily moved and stored labyrinth on canvas or paint a more permanent one on a gym floor. Create one outdoors with stone, gravel, or grass, or have fun with a temporary labyrinth on the beach in the sand.

Consider the labyrinth a tool of mediation and prayer. The path brings takes you to the center of a circle, and then, after a time of pause in the centre, sends us back out into the world. The practices are varied: for some it’s a chance to walk slowly, meditatively, breathing deeply into each step; for others it’s a dance to the centre. Sometimes a question will arise as you are walking to the centre; in the centre perhaps an answer will come. I have walked the labyrinth many times and each time I experienced it differently. Sometimes I walked slowly, sometimes I sang, sometimes I prayed aloud, sometimes I was stopped in my tracks by an image in nature that I hadn’t noticed before. Sometimes I felt nothing but my steps, sometimes my questions were answered, and sometimes I saw visions. It’s always a mysterious walk and it is a beautiful way to practice prayer.
Youth are particularly drawn to the practice of walking the labyrinth. It is about prayer-full movement and action; it is mysterious and ancient.  People sense something holy about the labyrinth that is not easily expressed. I encourage you to enter into the practice of the labyrinth in your youth ministry program. Find a labyrinth, build a labyrinth, use a labyrinth, walk the labyrinth, ask questions about the labyrinth, research the labyrinth, and when done praying in it, reflect on it together.
www.labyrinthlocator.com

© This prayer practice and all of those on the Sunday Morning Blog Post can be found in:  "Go Deep: Spiritual Practices for Youth Ministry" Wood Lake Publishing.
Doris is the Youth Director for the United Church of Canada in BC and the Director of World Pilgrim: Global Education and Awareness Travel.